I entered the house, finding Dad seated on the couch, patiently awaiting my arrival. The ambient lights danced, casting ominous shadows on his face, intensifying the gravity of the moment. A palpable tension hung in the air, nearly suffocating the room. "Hey honey, take a seat," he uttered with a calm demeanor, yet the worry line etched deep on his forehead betrayed an underlying concern.Inhaling deeply, I settled into the chair opposite him. "Do you know what I want to talk about?" I inquired in a hushed tone.He offered a simple nod. "Yes, I've been made aware."Made aware? How? When?"Angel, there's a lot of things that I haven't told you. I-I've just been waiting for the right time, and I hope you don't hate me for this," he began, his words hesitant and weighted with a mix of remorse and apprehension.I held my breath. My heart pounded so fiercely that it felt as if it could explode at any moment. An overwhelming fear gripped me as I awaited the next words from his lips. Was he
Dante's POVAlpha, I finally told her, David's voice echoed through the mind-link as I was running the perimeter at the edge of my territory.I'm guessing that didn't go well, I replied.No, she sped off in her car. She just needs to process it. I know she will come around eventually, David responded, his words carrying a mix of concern and optimism.Let me know the second she does. I cut off the connection, frustrated that David didn't know where Angelique was. His calm demeanor unsettled me; I needed to ensure her safety. With only three days until she shifted for the first time, the urgency weighed heavily on my mind. I couldn't fathom how terrifying it must be for her. While I had my entire childhood to prepare, she only had until Friday. I didn't agree with him waiting so long to tell her, but it wasn't my place or anyone else's to intervene.Jazzy nearly slipped up today, but thankfully she didn't. It was nearly unbearable watching Angel in so much emotional distress and still n
Angel's POV It was around midnight as I stepped into the house. As I flicked on the kitchen light, my heart skipped a beat at the sight of my dad seated at the table. Despite his evident exhaustion, there was a palpable eagerness in his eyes as he spoke, "Angel, I'm glad that you came back. Where have you been?" "Sitting in my car on the side of the road," I mumbled, settling into the chair across from him. My body felt drained from the tears that had flowed relentlessly."Are...are you feeling better now?" he hesitated to ask. I breathed out a heavy sigh, "No, but there's nothing I can do but accept it, right?" It would have been nice to have known all this shit a few years earlier, or at least to have had a say in the decision to move here. However, I realized that embracing the inevitable was the only path forward.He nodded silently."I have some questions then."Again, he nodded. "I knew that you would. What would you like to know?" His nervous habit of rubbing the back of hi
Dante's POVThree days had passed since I last saw Angelique. Tonight, she would be getting her wolf, and I would finally discover if she was my mate or not. I had been checking in daily with David to inquire about her well-being, but his response remained consistent.She had locked herself in her room and refused to come out, even to eat. David claimed that he kept slipping granola bars underneath the door, but they were starting to pile up on the other side. She was starving herself, and who knew if she was getting any sleep. If she continued down this path, she would end up in the pack hospital. Shifting for the first time was excruciating and exhausting, and it would be even worse for her if she hadn't slept or eaten in three days.Jasmine and I had arranged to visit her after my pack meeting this afternoon. The Alpha from our neighboring allied pack, the SilverClaw Nightwalkers, was in town to discuss the recent surge in rogue attacks. I felt a growing sense of concern as the att
Angel's POVToday was my birthday. Every child grows up wishing and waiting for the day they turn eighteen, but the last week only made me dread it. I spent the last three days telling myself that I couldn't just sleep until this significant change that would potentially ruin my life happened, but the more I said it, the more depressed I felt. I didn't understand how I could sleep so much and still feel like shit. Glancing from my bed, I spotted the stack of granola bars piled near my door. The notion of eating didn't exactly excite me, but my stomach's growls were relentless. Summoning the will to get up, I plopped down on the floor and reluctantly unwrapped one of the bars. With a hesitant bite, I couldn't help but emit a quiet moan of satisfaction. Either I was starving, or this was the best fucking thing I had ever tasted!In no time, a pile of wrappers had accumulated on the floor beside me. I marveled at the fact that I had devoured over ten granola bars in a matter of minutes.
Dante's POVAs we approached the driveway, an intoxicating scent enveloped me, striking me like a brick; it was a delightful combination of strawberries and cream.Mate! Quinn growled possessively in my head. I was frozen in place. Did Angelique get her wolf already? Was she really my mate after all?Yes Dante, she is your mate. Her wolf, Kira, is calling out to me, he confirmed. A surge of warmth spread through my chest. After more than a year of searching, I had finally found my mate. The only concern lingering was how well Angelique would take the news. David had already granted us permission to enter upon our arrival. Jasmine opened the door, and I anxiously trailed behind her. We made our way through the living room, heading towards the kitchen where David was preparing something that emitted a questionable burning odor. I sincerely hoped that whatever the fuck it was, he didn't have plans to serve it to my mate.Suddenly, Angelique appeared at the bottom of the staircase, dr
Angel's POVThe sun had finally set, signaling that I only had a few hours before my first shift. Seated at the kitchen table with Dad and Jasmine, I contemplated the burnt French toast in front of me. Dad side-eyed me, waiting for me to take the first bite. My lack of interest in eating went beyond the inedible food; the look on Jasmine's face mirrored my reluctance. Dante's inexplicable reaction lingered in my mind, leaving my heart shattered and Kira mysteriously absent. I knew it wasn't a good idea to ask Jasmine about it, she was probably upset that we were mates, so I just drowned in my inner turmoil alone. Dad cleared his throat, his gaze curious and expectant. "So, honey, what are you doing for your birthday?"I couldn't suppress a wry grin. "You mean besides transforming into a giant animal?" I replied, a touch of sarcasm coloring my words."We're actually going to a club tonight," Jasmine blurted out. My head snapped in her direction. "We are?" I asked, my brow furrowing
Angel’s POV I halted in my tracks when I noticed Dante's car in the driveway. Was he truly so repulsed by the fact that I'm his mate that he just abandoned his car here? To make matters worse, we were not only riding in his car, but we were also heading to the very house where I might run into him again, inevitably facing more embarrassment.My bottom lip quavered as I tried to hold back the tears threatening to spill over. "I-I don't think I can do this," I whisper. Despite being in the process of opening the door on the driver's side, she sighed and abruptly slammed it shut. Grabbing my hand, she pulled me towards the passenger door. "I really don't want to get in the middle of this, but there's no way you're not going to enjoy your birthday because my brother is an idiot." She swung the door open and gestured towards the seat. "Get your ass in the car right now.""But-" Her contorted expression halted the next words on the tip of my tongue. I sighed and slid into the seat. Althou